At the NFL owners' meetings on Tuesday, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was close to reaching a deal with former quarterback Peyton Manning for a front-office role.
According to Zac Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, Jim Irsay had a conversation with Manning in 2016 after the team was coming off a disappointing 8-8 season.
Manning had other plans and wanted to spend more time with family.
“I’m just not ready yet,” Irsay recalled Manning saying. “(He said,) It’s just not right, right now. And if I’m all in, I’m all in… You know I’d like to spend more time with the family. He clearly expressed that to me. And I wasn’t surprised.”
Peyton Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. He has completed 6,125 passes for 71,940 passing yards and 539 touchdowns. He has been selected to 14 Pro Bowls and is a seven-time First-Team All-Pro selection. There are many more accolades in his decorated 18 seasons in the NFL, including two Super Bowl championships.
He'll definitely have interest from the broadcasting world. Tony Romo has made a name for himself as one of the best sports commentators today. With all the knowledge Manning has, many wouldn't be surprised if he took on a similar role — and gained a similar amount of praise — compared to Romo.
It's fair to say that Jim Irsay did a good job with the hiring of Chris Ballard as the Colts' general manager. He drafted Quenton Nelson, Darius Leonard, and Braden Smith, three moves that ultimately turned the Colts into a playoff team last season.
Peyton Manning won't bump Ballard anytime soon.
Follow Us
Subscribe